The Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda 2011 Guide - (Page 22)

Underwater ADVENTURES From the ABC islands to the Cayman Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands, there’s as much adventure under the islands’ crystalline waters as there is on the sugar white sands, lush jungles and vibrant towns and villages. On Aruba one of the most popular diving experiences for both experienced and novice divers is a fun day trip out to the home of the wreck ANTILLA—a 400 ft.-plus supply ship for a German submarine group during WWII, and the wreck of the PEDERNALES. Sites such as MALMOK REEF, BARCADERA REEF and LAGO REEF are packed with schooling ﬁsh and dramatic coral formations. + Aruba also has a hefty cache of attractions with its state-of-the-art casinos, ﬁrst-rate entertainment, an extensive array of ﬁne restaurants, as well as fabulous shopping in downtown ORANJESTAD, the island’s capital. + But there’s even more for the active adventure traveler who can add even more sizzle to their dive vacation with programs that include hiking, cycle tours, jeep safaris and even rock-climbing. HOTEL HIGHS: The RENAISSANCE ARUBA RESORT & CASINO located in the heart of Aruba’s capital on a private island with the island’s only private beaches, and the HYATT REGENCY ARUBA RESORT & CASINO in Palm Beach. Aruba + Another top dive spot is ATLANTIS, located near the Willemstoren Lighthouse in the south and it’s not only a shore dive, but a boat dive site as well. The currents are moderate to strong here, so intermediate diving skill levels are required, with depths ranging from 30-100 ft. Turtles and larger species of ﬁsh are generally seen in this area. Near the drop-off both hard and soft coral formations are found. HOTEL HIGHS: DIVI FLAMINGO BEACH RESORT & CASINO, and BUDDY DIVE RESORT. FAST FACTS: GETTING THERE: From the U.S., nonstop and connecting air service to BON ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: U.S. passport BEST TIME TO GO: Year-round Cayman Islands FAST FACTS: GETTING THERE: From the U.S., nonstop service to AUA ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: U.S. passport BEST TIME TO GO: Year-round Bonaire Bonaire offers dive enthusiasts some of the most pristine reefs and diverse marine life in the Caribbean because the waters around Bonaire have been protected by an actively managed marine park for the past 30 years, currently ranking it among the top four best diving destinations in the world. + The fringing reef that surrounds Bonaire is a National Marine Park from the high water mark down to a depth of 200 ft. All divers are required to attend a BONAIRE NATIONAL MARINE PARK orientation/ brieﬁng before their ﬁrst dive on the island and purchase a marine park tag valid for one calendar year for $25. + The island boasts over 80 dive sites with 60 shore dive sites, all marked by a large yellow stone. According to many divers, KARPATA is one of the most beautiful dive spots on Bonaire. The dive spot is well known for its good accessibility and beautiful underwater panoramic views. This makes the shore dive site ideal for underwater photography. There’s a tremendous variety of ﬁsh species here such as emperor ﬁsh, parrotﬁsh, triggerﬁsh, snappers and more. Also, sea horses have been spotted, and there are large formations of elkhorn coral. C22 The Cayman Islands—comprised of three islands, GRAND CAYMAN, LITTLE CAYMAN and BRAC CAYMAN—while famous for their dropdead gorgeous beaches and high-end resorts, are also famed for their diving opportunities. Indeed, Cayman is recognized as the birthplace of recreational diving in the Caribbean where scuba pioneer Bob Soto opened Grand Cayman’s ﬁrst dive shop in 1957. + It has more than 40 dive operations and 200 dive sites marked with moorings. Its warm, clear waters offer 100 ft.-plus visibility where divers enjoy a variety of marine life, and the sheer coral walls at LITTLE CAYMAN’S BLOODY BAY MARINE PARK begin at 20 ft. and plunge to 6,000 ft. + Each island offers very different diving adventures for divers of all levels. Divers of all levels, though, will want to dive the newest wreck off GRAND CAYMAN’S 7-MILE BEACH, the KITTIWAKE, a former U.S. Navy submarine supply ship that was sunk this past January for use as an artiﬁcial reef where a big grouper called Goliath has already taken up residence. HOTEL HIGHS: The BRAC REEF BEACH RESORT located on over four acres of beachfront on the southwest corner of Cayman Brac; the oceanfront RITZ-CARLTON, GRAND CAYMAN. FAST FACTS: GETTING THERE: From the U.S., nonstop and connecting service to GCM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: U.S. passport BEST TIME TO GO: November to May recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda 2011 Guide

Introduction/Tourism Boards
Eco Exploration for the Wild at Hart
The European Touch
Island Escapes
Underwater Adventures
All-Inclusive Powerhouses
Party Time
Authentic Caribbean

The Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda 2011 Guide